Chapter 101
Chapter 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Pursuit
-----------------------------------------------------------------
One day, Minhee and I ended up walking home just the two of us. It was a day when Hansu, Inha, and Hyunho had level-based classes. Actually, this happened pretty often. Every one of us received tutoring at least three times a week. We usually scheduled it on specific days of the week. Especially for Inha and Hansu, their sessions overlapped a lot.
“What should we grab on the way?”
“Huh? Sure.”
We could’ve gone to the shops inside the school, but that day, Minhee and I were craving the sweet and spicy chicken from a street food stall near the school. Holding hands, we headed to the chicken place.
Chicken was my favorite meat. I loved chicken skewers and spicy chicken stew, but above all, fried chicken. Minhee ordered the sauce version, and I got fried. Each holding a cup of sweet and spicy chicken, we walked and ate.
As we strolled, we spotted what looked like a park. There weren’t many people around that day. We munched on our chicken happily. That’s when I suddenly noticed a familiar figure approaching us.
‘Huh, that guy.’
I casually recalled who he was. Han Jaeil, the one who had called Teacher Min his rival.
He walked straight toward us. Or rather, slightly off, as if passing by our side. Our eyes met briefly. The man, hands in his pockets, was smiling. I thought nothing of it. He didn’t seem to recognize me, so I planned to just walk past.
I didn’t think he’d remember me. It had been a memorable incident, but only a one-time meeting. Minhee seemed to recognize him too, but that was just her exceptional memory, and she didn’t seem inclined to say hi.
We kept walking, intending to pass by.
But then I sensed a threatening flow of mana from the man’s hand as he approached right in front of us. Reflexively, I analyzed the mana flow. It was... clearly carrying the intent of an ‘attack.’
The intensity of the mana, the strength of the attack, the reason for using it here—all led to one conclusion. It wasn’t a thought; my body moved on instinct.
I instantly erected a thick barrier. Viscous mana, like lava, poured onto it.
Sizzle!
“Ugh...!”
“W-What...!?”
Minhee, who hadn’t noticed a thing, widened her eyes in shock. The barrier felt scorchingly hot somehow. The mana superiority was clearly his. I wrapped the poison-like mass in my barrier, grabbed Minhee’s hand, and retreated.
I didn’t know why we were being attacked. But this situation was definitely dangerous. I immediately tried to teleport away with Minhee. But before I could, a sharp sword revealed its blade.
Clang!
Minhee blocked the blade. She manifested something like a spear to parry the man’s attack. But before I could even register the clash of weapons, Minhee’s spear began to melt. A smile crept onto the man’s lips.
I fired mana at him right away. He dodged it and vanished in an instant. Teleport? Minhee gripped her spear in panic.
“W-What the hell?!”
I couldn’t speak amid the sudden chaos. I just tracked the man’s presence. I was just as flustered.
Using mana sense, I pinpointed where he’d fled and raised a barrier. But his attack shot out before it fully formed.
“Guh...!”
It pierced straight through my shoulder. Unbelievable pain erupted from my arm. The struck shoulder turned purple. My whole body burned hot. I collapsed, writhing silently, unable to even scream.
“...Aaaah...!”
“Eunha!”
Minhee rushed to me. The pain overwhelmed me; I couldn’t think straight. This raw agony was a first. I held back screams and groans. My body twitched uncontrollably. My mind went blank. Tears welled up and fell.
“What are you doing! Who the hell are you?! Why attack us out of nowhere...!”
“That’s why I said don’t resist. I meant to knock you out lightly with the first hit.”
“Stop lying! The first attack was the same as this one! You think that’d just knock her out?!”
“Aha, busted.”
A chuckling voice drew near. I twisted in pain, blinking through tear-filled eyes. Through blurry vision, I saw his feet.
Tears streaming, I bit my lip hard.
“That girl mainly uses spatial magic, right? Annoying if she escapes.”
“Even so...!”
Terror and pain made my body tremble, tears leaking out, but I focused my mana. It was my only way to survive.
First, I numbed my body’s pain. I had no choice to cast spells.
Gritting my teeth, I converted my mana’s attribute. Normally, using it on a person would terrify me, but not now. He was far stronger!
I didn’t understand. He’d saved us before, was friends with Teacher Min, didn’t seem to remember us—why this suddenly?
But priority was escaping. Crushing swirling thoughts, I clenched my fist, glared at him from the ground, and spoke, sand gritty in my palm.
“...Moon Flash.”
The sun hadn’t set yet... but now I could use it with just mana! Glaring, I activated the spell.
With my murmur, beams of light shot from all directions. They formed pillars engulfing the man and Minhee ahead. Clenching my fist to maintain it, I propped myself up on knees and elbows.
Hallucination magic already blocked the pain. Trembling but pain-free, I eyed my arm’s wound. No bleeding, at least. His poison magic pierced my shoulder metaphysically, seeping into my skin like venom. My arm was intact externally but filled with poison.
“Hnng... Hup...”
I gritted my teeth. Just looking was horrific, pain threatening to return. I adjusted so the purple poisoned flesh vanished from sight. Hallucination cloaked my shoulder; the arm looked fine. It steadied me slightly.
Placing a hand on my shoulder, I infused faint purification mana. I couldn’t use detox due to poor affinity, but purification was learnable. I’d mastered basic purification conversion.
Breathing steadily, I scanned around. Vision still blurry.
‘The man... where’d he go? He didn’t get hit by that spell... probably... not...’
Before I could finish thinking, he reappeared. A fast-moving shadow, too quick for eyes. But I tracked via mana sense. Body too weak to block, I materialized a hallucination, wielding it like a sword imaginatively.
『Sword Immune to Poison』
Clang!
A metallic ring echoed. A greatsword from thin air blocked his attack. He seemed slightly surprised.
“Hah... Hah...”
Minhee? Where was she?
Scanning hazily, I flinched. Minhee lay groaning near flowerbeds. Biting my lip at the sight. My mana couldn’t have hit her; control held even now. So in that instant, he blocked my spell and knocked her out to prevent escape.
Silently, I layered spells. His special attribute resembled darkness. Light magic countered best.
Instantly, a massive fire pillar erupted before me. Fire... burns even poison. The fire was Ardel’s transfer student style, light Inha’s. It radiated sizzling heat that could scorch me too.
Seeing the pillar block my view, I teleported to grab Minhee and flee.
...It didn’t work.
Teleport failed.
“...? Teleport...?”
Panicking, I stared at my hand. Then intense mana swelled the pillar, exploding and dismantling the spell. Embers scattered as normal fire, igniting surroundings slightly. Panicked, I extinguished them before trees caught.
Watching, he shook his head.
“Hmm... I see. You won’t do.”
Muttering, he approached Minhee. Desperate, I tried teleport again—failed. Swallowing a groan, I barred his path with a barrier around her. He turned to me. I glared, disheveled. He smiled.
“Fine, I’ll tell you why teleport fails. Kid, you don’t know, but lots of tools nullify specific magic. Most don’t work on strong mages, though.”
“...!”
Eyes wide. Ah, right... that explained it.
But I forced my weakening body upright.
Didn’t mean no escape. I had barriers. If they worked, we could flee. Easily, with Minhee!
Glancing at her in the barrier... Should I send her first?
As I pondered seriously, rustling sounded. Minhee staggered up. Relieved, eyes wide—good, not badly hurt.
She wobbled toward me. He just watched, amused. Barrier moved with her. I anxiously eyed her and him alternately.
‘Send Minhee first? But then escaping myself gets harder... Mana’s still plenty. Know why teleport fails, so barrier then flee...’
Could I dodge his attack speed? Fingers twitching, I counted seconds internally. At 3, barrier myself and teleport.
Then, an eerie feeling hit. Instinctively stomping to dodge sideways, a sharp mana blade slashed where I’d been. Panicking, I looked at Minhee.
“M-Minhee...?”
She’d attacked me—Minhee. Lightning-attuned sword gleamed on her hand. Mouth agape, uncomprehending, I froze. The watching man shook his head.
“No wonder... your mind was clear.”
What? What...
‘No way!’
Flash: Teacher Min’s words. His magic: poison, hypnosis, hallucination. That’s it! Swallowing a scream, I checked Minhee desperately. Her eyes lacked focus. Controlled...?!
“But you’re intriguing enough. So I’ll let you live.”
He melted her barrier instantly, pulling Minhee. He grinned.
“Bye-bye.”
Minhee! I screamed her name. Reaching as I tried another counter, fog-like powder enveloped me, obscuring everything—even him and Minhee.
Not hallucination. Foreboding, I covered mouth and nose, casting text magic. Water droplets formed in air, growing to dissolve the poison fog entirely.
Vision cleared; I scanned—no sign. Teleport restriction didn’t apply to him?! Or...
Then, mana sense caught him. Looking up—him and Minhee in the sky.
They vanished in a whoosh. Eyes wide, teeth gritted, I screamed wide-mouthed.
“Minheeeeeee──!!!”
That drained my last strength. Pain absent, but poison gnawed my body.
I collapsed limply onto cold ground.
“Ugh...!”
No strength left. Clutching shoulder with one hand, I shivered. Reaching to rise, grasping only sand—that was all. My spells unraveled as energy faded. Poisoned arm exposed starkly. It spread from shoulder, tainting all. Purification helped little at my level.
Averting eyes, teeth chattering, I glared ahead. Strangely painless. Vision blackened, body quaking. Cold. So cold. Sight flickered. Eyelids heavy. Dazed mind knew: unconsciousness soon.
‘No!’
Or... death. Screaming internally, I fought flickering vision. Chanting Minhee’s name, willed body to move. Amid fading consciousness, clearest was: Minhee gone. Kidnapped. Right before me. Tears fell—barely felt on cheek.
‘No... what to do... how...’
Gritting repeatedly. Didn’t want to pass out. Must do something...
Jingle.
Fading vision caught a gleaming indigo bead-like thing. Reached—missed. Finally, fingertip touched student ID. Hand fully purpled. Forcing strength, I pressed it.
Beep─.
“H-Help...”
Throat clogged, voice weak. But I forced it out.
“Help me...”
Even pain receded. Uttering that, eyes closed. Black waves crashed. Consciousness drifting—someone shook me.
“...! ...Hey!”
Blurred sight showed familiar faces. Flickering dark-bright. Thought first: Ah, right... Minhee... But body unresponsive. Gritting, tears dropped. Numb hand grabbed nearest person’s collar.
“O-Oppa... Je-hyeon, Oppa...”
Poured all strength there. Clung like nails. Or couldn’t hold body—or consciousness.
“...Ha. Your arm...?! Poison... hit?!”
Voice faded in-out. Right. Purification failed. Cold from poison? Thoughts jumbled. Hot? Him. Je-hyeon Oppa. Eunhee Unnie. M-Minhee... Minhee...
Thoughts tangled. Body shuddered. Barely opened mouth.
“M-Minhee... Minhee...”
“What? Minhee? What about Minhee...!”
Screaming voice echoed distantly. Lips moved endlessly. My voice gone.
“...Teacher’s friend... Minhee... hypnosis... kidnapped...”
Snap.
Consciousness cut.
Eyes opened to a hospital room. Staring blankly at white ceiling, I rolled my gaze. Someone called fussily.
“Eunha! Yoo Eunha! You okay?!”
...Mom. Nodding blankly at her. Yeah. Fine. Emotionless murmur.
Realizing no pain, eyed left arm—poisoned one. Scary, but stared. ...Smooth flesh, normal skin tone. No purple trace.
“Eunha. Really okay?”
Gazing blankly at ceiling, vision blurred, distorted. Tears trailed from corners. Sniffling, I murmured.
“Minhee... Minhee...”
Pre-faint memories clear, save the end. Minhee’s eyes: unfocused. His magic: poison, hypnosis, hallucination—those three mains. So hypnosis controlled her.
Teeth gritted. I could break hypnosis. More care, I’d have noticed. Sob escaped. Beside her till kidnapping—failed to stop. Friend, precious friend. Regret stabbed chest. Anxiety filled it. But one clear:
‘Must find Minhee.’
Murmured internally, hand over eyes.
‘Minhee...’
“Mom... Minhee... what do...”
“...”
Mom and Dad watched silently. Room filled with my cries for a while.
Then, click—door opened.
Curling, hands over eyes—someone rushed over. Wrist grabbed. Eyes wide.
Je-hyeon Oppa, urgent-faced, held my wrist.
“...!”
Seeing my face, his urgency turned to surprise. Flinching, released. I wiped tears quickly with arm.
“Calm down. Don’t manhandle an already scared kid.”
Familiar voice followed, heels clicking. Turning: Teacher, long brown hair swaying, approaching. Behind: Eunhee Unnie, Cheonho Oppa, Teacher Min, Teacher Junhwi, Auntie Seona, Uncle Jeongmin. Then friends rushed in.
“Hey, Yoo Eunha! You okay?!”
“Eunha!”
Inha and Hyunho cried outright. Feeling tears burst again, reached for Inha.
“Guys... kids...”
“You okay?”
“M-Minhee... Minhee...”
“Who was it! The kidnapper—you saw?!”
“Joo Je-hyeon!”
“Eek...”
At my trailing words, Je-hyeon Oppa retreated from Teacher’s yell. Sniffling, pointed at Teacher Min. Didn’t want to cry, show tears—but unstoppable.
“The kidnapper...”
Hesitated. Yes. But he and Teacher Min were old best friends. Special to her. But not time for that.
“Han Jaeil... that guy...”
Wiping tears, spat venomously. Name out—everyone froze.
“Han Jaeil? That bastard did this to you?”
Familiar name, remembered. Nodded at Auntie Seona. Friends scowled.
“Han Jaeil? Who’s that?”
“The guy from the cafe... saved me before.”
“What?”
Friends’ faces hardened. Brief silence. Then Teacher Min whispered disbelievingly.
“What...? That guy kidnapped Minhee...?”
Sniffling, head down. Teacher Min approached urgently.
“Really him? Personality? Face? Description? Heard name direct?”
Eyes squeezed shut, slowly shook head.
“Not that, but... said he knew you. Called you rival. Hair purple-mixed brown, very long. Eyes wine-colored... definitely poison and hypnosis magic...”
“Damn it!”
Before finishing, Teacher spat curse, grinding teeth.
“That’s him! No doubt! Knew he’d cause trouble someday. But this?!”
Teacher yelled frustratedly, stomping—crack in reinforced floor. Clicked tongue, repaired it.
Teacher Junhwi’s face stiff. Teacher Min, pushing me earlier, now confused-scowling. Those who knew him reacted thus. But Eunhee Unnie, puzzled:
“Han Jaeil...? Junhwi Sunbae’s classmate? Heard he was famous back then...”
“I remember. Had vicious poison magic.”
Je-hyeon Oppa’s expression sharpened.
“He kidnapped Minhee?”
Sunken gaze recalled Minhee’s face then: attacked, fallen, rising with blank eyes at me... Painful. But held it, explained fully.
Started with first meeting. Then today’s ‘chance’ encounter. Wait—no chance.
Maybe planned kidnapping since learning we’re Daehyeon students. We showed skill too. If targeting talents, us logical.
But biggest question: why us? We’re Teacher Min’s acquaintances. Why kidnap friend’s contacts?
‘Or... because of Teacher Min?’
From Teacher Min: he’s S-tendency psycho. Odd they were best friends. Suspected.
Finished. My lips closed—room heavy silence.
“Han Jaeil...”
Teacher Min muttered name, grinding teeth.
“Damn, that guy...”
“...”
Teacher Junhwi complex-faced at her. Watching sunken, Eunhee Unnie voiced issue.
“Problem: no tracking method.”
Anxiety-filled eyes to her.
“He’s school alum. Student ID ditched obviously. Asked our tracker-specialist acquaintance—Minhee untrackable, interference item likely. So using your injury’s residual mana to track him... but heavily altered, unsure...”
Tracking needs clues: blood, mana, spell traces, name at least. Useless on strong foes. Trackers bypass somewhat, but limited. Uncertain now.
“Tried owner-recognition on ID for biotrace—failed. Too far probably...”
Cheonho Oppa showed somber yellowish-green ID. Minhee’s. Fist clenched at gut churn.
“Eunha, your text magic?”
Perking at Teacher, met gaze, nodded. Pulled subspace world map, wrote Minhee. Failed five times. Tried Han Jaeil—ten-plus, shattered.
Bit lip. Higher-level counter-tracking. Power gap unavoidable. Impotent, clenched fist.
Any tracking way?
Anything. Not just tracking magic... non-item-blocked way to find Minhee...
Then, thought—eyes wide.
‘In dreams...’
My dreams: consciousness aggregate. Magic-granted, but not magic. Creating/manipulating in dreams is magic; entering/navigating isn’t. Tracking minds via dreams—different from tracking magic.
Anti-tracking items mostly physical. Block mental realm?
Bit lip. Minhee has hypnosis—mental magic. But... maybe more possible? Body hypnotized, mind dream-adjacent?
“Eunha?”
Failure risk exists. Looked all around. Opened mouth—closed. Try first, then tell.
Shook head at Inha—nothing. As hesitating, Teacher gestured others.
“Then we’ll go. Confirmed you safe, she needs rest, above all—find that girl fast. Kids, remember cafe she met him? Guide us there.”
“Y-Yes.”
Teachers, seniors, kids filed out. Eunhee Unnie patted head fondly exiting.
“Don’t worry. We’ll find her.”
Inha looked back.
“Be back soon.”
Left: Inha’s parents, mine. In quiet room, back to bed, clasped hands tight, head down. Closed-opened eyes.
“Eunha, okay?”
Mom stroked head worriedly.
“Don’t worry about Minhee. Those strong mages’ll find her. She’ll be fine. Yeah, definitely...”
Nodded at Mom, holding rage. Yes, Minhee... must be safe. Absolutely.
“Sleep more. Uncle Jeongmin detoxed your arm, but still tired. Rest. Got it?”
Nodded, lay obediently. Closed eyes, slowly sank into consciousness.